In part one of this series, we talked about five of the reasons why you must lift weights.
There are no downsides to being stronger, leaner, and more durable. Today, I’ve got five more reasons why you must lift weights.
1) You Will Face Regular Challenges
One of the key reasons to lift weights is that you will face regular challenges.
When you train progressively, you will eventually meet a weight you can’t lift on that day. When you fail, you will reveal your character. Will you complain that the weight beat you down? Or will you take it personally and aim to defeat the weight next time? These challenges help you develop mental toughness.
My persistence in training was a key factor in opening my gym. Back then, times were tough. I would often think to myself, “If I can do the lunges of death, why am I losing my mind about getting clients?”
Nothing I’ve ever done in the gym has been as hard as the Lunges of Death. If I can do that, I can deal with the process of becoming successful in the fitness business.
2) You Will Build Your Foundation
Have you ever seen a building at its genesis?
There is nothing there except the ground. Even when the construction begins, the building will still look incomplete. But when you look at that same building a few years later, it’s a work of art.
When you first begin to lift weights, you will look incomplete. But as you continue to lift, your physique will begin to come together like that building. If you do it right, you will look completely different in the mirror. All your hard work will have paid off.
It’s hard to see the finish line at the start. But if you are consistent in your efforts, you will cross it in due time.
3) You Can Dominate Your Sport
When all factors are equal, the stronger and more powerful athlete wins every time.
But how do you get bigger, stronger, and more powerful? By lifting weights that are relatively heavy.
Lifting weights, in addition to my sprint training, allowed me to run fast times as a master’s sprinter. I was able to smoke some younger sprinters at those track meets!
Many coaches don’t have a grasp on how to lift. And when these coaches have their athletes lift, it turns into a chaotic workout. Complete with bad form, excessive cussing, and no emphasis on progression.
For most sports, weight training is not the primary means to the end goal of becoming better in your sport. But if you are stronger, more powerful, and can avoid injuries, you will have a better chance of success.
4) You Can Almost Bulletproof Your Body
Lifting weights is also about increasing your body’s ability to resist injury.
When you don’t lift at all, you are more susceptible to injury. Lacking durability shows up during activities like helping your friend move. Because if you are fragile, you have a much higher chance of blowing out your back when you try to lift that couch.
After years of training, that couch is unlikely to hurt you. Training hard will make your body rock-solid. There is no fun in being frail and brittle like Glass Joe.
5) Your Clothes Won’t Make You
One of my biggest pet peeves is when some people spend more money than necessary on clothing.
One of their hopes is that the clothes make them look better and hide their lack of fitness. I’ve seen many people wearing pricey clothes and accessories. Meanwhile, they have an out-of-shape $1 body.
When you lift weights, you can make cheap clothing look like a top designer made it. As a man, you can go to Marshalls and buy:
• $15 to $25 shirt
• $25 to 35 jeans
• A pair of basic canvas sneakers
As a woman, you can go to TJ Maxx and buy:
•A $15 to $30 sundress
•$30 heels
After you put the clothes on, you will look like a stallion. When you lift weights, you make every outfit look good regardless of the brand. The clothing doesn’t make the man or woman.
Conclusion
There is nothing stopping you from lifting weights and upgrading your life.
I’ll holla at you next time.
The People’s Trainer,
Fitman
